Glazed structures

ABSTRACT

A glazed structure has semi-rigid glazing panels of plastic material carried by support bars of hollow cross-section with an integral T-section extension. The extension reinforces the bar against bending and also co-operates with a system for coupling the panels to the bars in a weathertight manner.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to glazed structures and more particularlyto glazed structures using semi-rigid plastic panels as the glazingmaterial.

2. Description of the Prior Art

Semi-rigid plastic panels, particularly of polycarbonate, are widelyused as a glazing material in building structures such as roofs andwalls. It is relatively lightweight and is quite versatile in that it isable to accommodate a degree of bending and can therefore beincorporated into a curved roof or curved wall. One common method ofsecuring the panels is by screwing directly to underlying supportstructure usually by means of self-drilling screws which incorporate asealing washer to prevent water penetration at the point of penetrationof the screw through the panel. However systems which do not requirepenetration of the panel are to be preferred. One such system whichavoids the need for penetration by individual self-drilling screws andwhich permits significantly faster installation, uses plastic panelswith an upstanding lip extending along each of its two longitudinaledges. The adjacent lips of two adjacent panels are fastened together bya connector channel which is a snap-fit over the two lips. A system ofthis type which is now extensively used in Australia and many othercountries is sold under the trade mark DANPALON of Dan-Pal, UpperGalilee, Israel. The DANPALON system principally uses multi-cellpolycarbonate panels having a core formed by three or more layers ofelongate cells running the length of the panel or alternatively thepanel may be solid sheet of appropriate thickness, for example 4 mm.

In the existing DANPALON system, the glazing panels are secured tounderlying support structure, such as purlins, extending widthwise ofthe panels by brackets which are screwed to the structure and whichinterfit with the upstanding lips of adjacent panels. When the connectorchannel is applied to the two lips, the channel also retains the lipsagainst the brackets to thereby ensure that the panels are securelyfastened at that point to the underlying structure. Accordingly a verysecure and watertight fastening can be achieved without penetration ofthe panels and without the use of applied sealants or adhesives.

While the system described above is an effective system, when used onlarge roof spans for example (typically those in excess of 4 metres), asignificant under-structure is required to provide adequate structuralsupport. This not only adds to the expense of the structure but may alsoadversely affect its aesthetics.

Moreover, although the fastening system using the connecting channelsdoes facilitate installation while providing a watertight connectionbetween the adjacent panels, nevertheless the brackets by which thepanels are held to the underlying support structure are required to beindividually attached to the structure by being screwed to the structureand this in itself can be a relatively time consuming exercise.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to the present invention there is provided a glazed structurecomprising glazing panels arranged side-by-side with adjacentlongitudinal edges of pairs of adjacent panels being supported by a barcommon to both panels and extending lengthwise of the two edges, each ofthe adjacent edges having an upstanding lip and the bar including anintegral T-section extension from a panel-support surface of the bar,with the upstanding lips of the two panels lying between the supportsurface and the transverse flange of the T-section extension atrespective sides of the central flange of the T-section extension, and aconnector applied over the projecting lips to hold the lips captivewithin the T-section extension and thereby to secure the longitudinaledges of the panels to the bar.

Further according to the invention there is provided a glazed structurecomprising semi-rigid glazing panels of plastic material arranged withinthe structure with longitudinal edges of pairs of adjacent panels inside-by-side relation and each longitudinal edge including an integralupstanding lip, each pair of adjacent panels within the structure beingsupported at their adjacent longitudinal edges by an outwardly facingsurface of a longitudinally-extending support bar whereby the twoadjacent edges of the two panels are supported by that bar along theirentire length, the bar including a retaining flange parallel to the saidsurface of the bar but spaced outwardly therefrom with the two lipsbeing located between the retaining flange and said surface, and aconnector channel applied over the retaining flange and the outer sidesof the two lips to retain the lips between the retaining flange and thesaid surface of the bar and thereby securing the edges of the twoadjacent panels to the bar.

Still further according to the invention there is provided a glazedstructure comprising bars which provide structural support arranged inparallel relation, semi-rigid glazing panels arranged within thestructure with longitudinal edges of pairs of adjacent panels beingsupported by a said bar which is common to both panels and which extendslengthwise of the two panels, each of the adjacent edges having anupstanding lip and the bar including an integral T-section extensionfrom a panel-support surface of the bar, with the upstanding lips of thetwo panels lying between the support surface and the transverse flangeof the T-section extension at respective sides of the central flange ofthe T-section extension, and a connector applied over the projectinglips to hold the lips captive within the T-section extension and therebyto secure the longitudinal edges of the panels to the bar.

Still further according to the invention, there is provided a barintended for use in a glazing system as defined above, the bar having aportion of hollow section with an outer surface providing apanel-support surface of the bar and a T-section extension projectingfrom the surface to act in conjunction with a connector to retain thelips of the panels, the portion of hollow section and the extensionbeing integrally formed as an extrusion.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

An embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of exampleonly with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary exploded view showing the junction between twoglazing panels and a structural support bar of a glazing system of apreferred embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a cross-section showing the junction in its assembledcondition;

FIG. 3 is illustrative of a typical curved arched roof structure whichcan be formed using the system of the invention and showing as detail“A” the junction between two adjacent panels of the structure; and

FIG. 4 is a section similar to FIG. 2 and illustrating how the systemcan be adapted for use with a different type of glazing panel to thatillustrated in FIGS. 1 to 3.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The system of the preferred embodiment of the invention is based on theDANPALON system and, indeed, is able to use the panels and connectorchannels of the DANPALON system but uses a different form of underlyingsupport which both enables larger spans to be achieved without the needfor additional underlying support structure and also avoids the need forindividual brackets for securing the panels. It is however to beunderstood that the invention is not confined in scope to the use ofDANPALON panels and connectors. Accordingly the invention is suitablefor use with other glazing panels having upstanding lips along theirlongitudinal edges for co-operation with connectors which fit over thetwo adjacent lips of two adjacent panels.

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary exploded view showing the outer longitudinaledges of two adjacent glazing panels 2 of multi-cell form with integralupstanding lips 4 having one or more locking ribs 4 a extending alongtheir internal face. The panels 2 with the integral lips 4 along theiropposed longitudinal edges are formed in standard widths by an extrusionprocess as will be well understood by those skilled in this art, to besubsequently cut to required length. The panels are preferably ofpolycarbonate. Also shown in this Figure, is the connector channel 6having, along the inner surface of its two sides, ribs 6 a whichlockingly inter-engage with the ribs 4 a of the upstanding panel lips 4when the connector channel 6 is applied over those edges (see FIG. 2).Depending on requirements, the connector channel 6 can be of extrudedplastic or of extruded alloy or metal.

In the system of the invention, each pair of adjacent panels 2 issupported along the entire length of their adjacent longitudinal edgesby a support bar 10 which extends longitudinally of the panels 2. Thebar 10 is profiled to enable it to traverse a large span without theneed for underlying support structure along its length. This is achievedby forming the main structure of the bar as a hollow section 12reinforced along its outer side (the side to which the glazing panels 2are applied) by an integral extension 14 of T-section. It will beunderstood that this T-section extension 14 acts in conjunction with theouter side of the hollow section 12 substantially in the manner of anI-beam to provide substantial reinforcement against bending deflectionof the bar 10 under the applied loading of the glazing panels. In theparticular form shown, the hollow section 12 of the bar 10 is tubular,specifically rectangular, although other sections which provide therequired strength against deflection and which have a substantiallyplanar outer surface against which the edges of the two panels 2 willrest, can be used. The bar 10 can readily be formed by extrusion, forexample in aluminium or other suitable alloy or metal and the extrudedbar can be roll-formed to a required curvature if it is to be usedwithin a curved arched roof structure as illustrated by way of examplein FIG. 3. FIG. 3 illustrates the curved bars 10 in parallel relationand supported only at their two ends, with a continuous glazing panel 2extending between each pair of bars and supported at its longitudinaledges by those bars.

The T-section extension 14 in addition to strengthening the bar 10 toprovide a greater span length, also acts as the means for securing thepanels 2 to the bar without the need for additional brackets. For thispurpose, the spacing between the outer transverse flange 14 a of theextension 14 and the outer face of the hollow section 12 corresponds tothe depth of the upstanding lip 4 along the longitudinal edge of thepanel so that the lip 4 can fit beneath, and be held captive by, theunderside of the flange 14 a. It is however to be noted that theupstanding lip 4 is not a tight fit under the flange 14 a but instead asmall gap is left, possibly of the order of 1 to 2 mm, to allow forthermal expansion of the plastic panel under elevated temperatures. Thelateral projection of the transverse flange 14 a to each side of thecentral flange 14 b of the extension 14 also corresponds approximatelyto the width of the lip 4.

When the connector channel 6 is applied over the two adjacent lips 4which abut against the opposite sides of the central flange 14 b, theribs 6 a along the sides of the connector channel 6 will snap-lock withthe ribs 4 a on the lips 4 to ensure that the lips 4 are anchored to theextension 14 and hence are positively locked to the bar 10. This is thecondition shown in FIG. 2 and also in the detail A of FIG. 3. It will ofcourse be understood that the junction between the two lips 4 and theextension 14 is enclosed within the interior of the connector channel 6and therefore impervious to penetration of water, and the snap-lockbetween the channel 6 and the lips 4 will prevent accidental removal ofthe channel 6.

In a practical form of the preferred embodiment in which the bar 10 isdesigned for use with DANPALON multi-cell panels whereby the lateralprojection of the transverse flange 14 a corresponds to the width of theupstanding lips 4 on those panels, the bar 10 is also suitable for usewith DANPALON panels of solid structure in which the lips are thinnerthan those of the multi-cell panels. This is achieved by the use ofL-section insert strips 16 laid along the outer side of the bar 10, asshown in FIG. 4 prior to installation of the panels 2 or alternativelyby the use of self-adhesive foam strips applied in a similar manner andthis is the preferred method.

Further components of the system are illustrated in FIG. 1 as applied toa typical roof structure. This Figure shows a beam 20 extending alongthe length of the structure to locate and support the bars 10 at oneend, with a similar beam being provided at the other ends of the bars10. However even when there is a substantial span between the two beams,the design of the bars enables that span to be traversed without theneed for intermediate underlying structural support. As shown, a saddlebracket 22 screwed or welded to the beam 20 locates and secures thelower part of the main hollow section 12 of the bar 10. An end sealingcap 24 of channel section is applied over the exposed end edges of thepanels 2 and the connector channel 6.

The panels 2 with the integral upstanding lips 4 may be produced in anumber of standard widths which are cut to required length for use.Although it is desirable to design the structure so that each section ofthe structure can accommodate a complete panel of standard width, insome situations an end section of the structure may be of a width lessthan a standard width. In that case the glazing panel for use in thatsection can be cut to the required width leaving a small excess portionwhich can be manually bent upwardly to form a projecting lip bypartially cutting through the thickness of the panel to facilitatebending. That lip can then be secured to the extension 14 of theend-most bar 10 in the structure using the connector channel aspreviously described.

As mention previously, although the preferred embodiment is particularlysuitable for use with existing DANPALON panels, which are polycarbonatepanels and connector channels, the embodiment is not confinedspecifically to use with those panels and the associated connectorchannels. Other glazing panels formed from polycarbonate sheeting orother suitable plastic sheeting and having upstanding lips along theirlongitudinal edges may alternatively be used; likewise other forms ofconnector which fit over the lips to secure the lips to the bar toprovide a watertight seal can be used.

It will be understood that the system in accordance with the inventionin addition to permitting increased roof spans without the need forintermediate underlying support structure, also obviates the need forthe incorporation of individual brackets to secure the panels to thestructure as the function of the brackets is now fulfilled by theT-section extension which forms an integral part of each support bar.Accordingly installation time and costs are significantly reduced.

Although the preferred embodiments have been described principally inrelation to roof structures, it is to be understood the invention in itspreferred embodiments is applicable to other structures such as wallstructures. Although the structure can have curvature achieved bybending the support bars, the structure can be substantially planar inform.

The embodiment has been described by way of example only andmodifications are possible within the scope of the invention.

1. A glazed structure comprising glazing panels arranged side-by-sidewith adjacent longitudinal edges of pairs of adjacent panels beingsupported by a bar common to both panels and extending lengthwise of thetwo edges, each of the adjacent edges having an upstanding lip and thebar including an integral T-section extension from a panel-supportsurface of the bar, with the upstanding lips of the two panels lyingbetween the support surface and the transverse flange of the T-sectionextension at respective sides of the central flange of the T-sectionextension, and a connector applied over the projecting lips to hold thelips captive within the T-section extension and thereby to secure thelongitudinal edges of the panels to the bar.
 2. A structure according toclaim 1, wherein the T-section extension is at an outer surface of aportion of the bar having a hollow section.
 3. A structure according toclaim 2, wherein the portion of the bar of hollow section has arectangular cross-section.
 4. A structure according to claim 2, whereinthe structure is a roof structure.
 5. A structure according to claim 4,wherein the bars forming the structure are curved in their longitudinaldirection to form a curved arched roof structure and the glazing panelshave sufficient flexibility to follow the curvature of the bars.
 6. Aglazed structure comprising semi-rigid glazing panels of plasticmaterial arranged within the structure with longitudinal edges of pairsof adjacent panels in side-by-side relation and each longitudinal edgeincluding an integral upstanding lip, each pair of adjacent panelswithin the structure being supported at their adjacent longitudinaledges by an outwardly facing surface of a longitudinally-extendingsupport bar whereby the two adjacent edges of the two panels aresupported by that bar along their entire length, the bar including aretaining flange parallel to the said surface of the bar but spacedoutwardly therefrom with the two lips being located between theretaining flange and said surface, and a connector channel applied overthe retaining flange and the outer sides of the two lips to retain thelips between the retaining flange and the said surface of the bar andthereby to secure the edges of the two adjacent panels to the bar.
 7. Astructure according to claim 6, wherein the bar is principally of hollowcross-section and the retaining flange forms part of an integralextension beyond the hollow cross-section which provides additionalreinforcement against bending of the bar under an applied loading.
 8. Astructure according to claim 7, wherein the sides of the lips includelocking formations and the connector channel includes locking formationswhich mate with those on the projecting lips to lock the connectorchannel to the lips.
 9. A structure according to claim 8, wherein theconnector channel when engaged with the lips provides a weathertightseal to prevent water penetration between the adjacent edges of the twopanels.
 10. A structure according to claim 7, wherein the structure is aroof structure and the support bars within the structure are supportedonly at their opposite ends.
 11. A glazed structure comprising barswhich provide structural support arranged in parallel relation,semi-rigid glazing panels arranged within the structure withlongitudinal edges of pairs of adjacent panels being supported by a saidbar which is common to both panels and which extends lengthwise of thetwo panels, each of the adjacent panel edges having an upstanding lipand the bar including an integral T-section extension from apanel-support surface of the bar, with the upstanding lips of the twopanels lying between the support surface and the transverse flange ofthe T-section extension at respective sides of the central flange of theT-section extension, and a connector applied over the projecting lips tohold the lips captive within the T-section extension and thereby tosecure the longitudinal edges of the panels to the bar.
 12. A structureaccording to claim 11, wherein the portion of hollow section is ofrectangular cross-section.
 13. A structure according to claim 11,wherein the connector is of channel form which, when engaged with thelips, provides a weather tight seal to prevent water penetration betweenthe edges of the two adjacent panels, the connector channel being lockedto the lips to prevent its accidental removal.
 14. A glazed structurehaving semi-rigid glazing panels of plastic material carried by supportbars which extend longitudinally of the panels such that respective saidbars support adjacent longitudinal edges of adjacent panels, each barbeing of hollow cross-section with an integral T-section extension, andthe extension reinforcing the bar against bending and also co-operatingwith a system for coupling the adjacent longitudinal edges of theadjacent panels to the bar in a weathertight manner.
 15. A structureaccording to claim 14, wherein the T-section extension is proximate to asurface of at least a portion of the bar, said portion having arectangular cross-section.